Orioles pregame: Hammel on pace to throw off mound in 1 1/2 weeks

Eduardo A. EncinaThe Baltimore Sun

Orioles ace right hander Jason Hammel, who underwent arthroscopic right knee surgery on July 15, is slightly ahead of schedule in his recovery and is about 1½ weeks from throwing off a mound, Orioles manager Buck Showalter said.

Hammel is currently throwing on flat ground from 90 feet at his home in Rhode Island and will progress to 120 feet before reporting to Sarasota to continue his rehab.

“They still need to get all that stiffness and discomfort out of there because you don’t want to start that too quickly and get a setback,” Showalter said.

In other injury news:

-- Second baseman Brian Roberts’ surgery to repair a labrum tear in his hip on Thursday was successful, Showalter said, and his remains on the same timetable of 4-6 months of rehab.

-- First baseman Nick Johnson, who was rehabbing a right wrist injury in Sarasota, has returned to his home in California. The organization hasn’t said it, but it appears he’s out for the season.